Women’s World Cup Controversy: How Sterile is Your Artificial Pitch?

Right now, the 2015 Women’s World Cup is a testy topic in the news. Have you heard what is going on? This year, the Men’s World Cup was played on real grass, and the women are slated to play on artificial turf or artificial pitches in 2015 for the Women’s World Cup to be held in Canada. The women players are in an uproar over it and blasting gender discrimination allegations at FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association. In their outrage, they’ve been posting some hideous turf burns and other injuries; the marks of playing soccer on artificial turf. Here is one, retweeted by basketball star Kobe Bryant in support of the soccer players.

Is it Discrimination?

Some think so. A conglomeration of about 50 leading women’s soccer players from around the world, has retained legal counsel and threatened action on the grounds of gender discrimination. This group includes female soccer stars Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan from the USA. While we aren’t sure what the underlying reason is for the selection of an artificial pitch, we do know of possible consequences and dangers it poses to the safety of the women soccer players. Want to know what we find really amusing? FieldTurf’s reaction to all of this. I think they may be in some dire need of public relations help.

FieldTurf sure is trying to save face – we get it, they are supplying the artificial pitches. They’ve signed a convenient endorsement deal with Kaylyn Kyle – an up and coming women’s soccer player on the Houston Dash. Kaylyn Kyle is getting $15,000 (over 3 years) to stand in front of the camera and spew her love of FieldTurf. In an article for TSN, FieldTurf Vice President of Marketing, Darren Gill had this to say.

“She wanted to believe in the product she backs,” Gill added. “A lot of the discussions were about whether she likes it. It’s not a cash grab for her.”

Ironically, last year, she posted this to her Twitter account.

Bet no one thought that tweet would resurface! Previously, we’ve shared our opinions about how FieldTurf interprets Staph and MRSA and how these infections are associated with artificial turf – smoke and mirrors. Our editorial was a result of FieldTurf responding to a mother’s editorial about the safety of artificial turf for her kids. So our biggest question in all of this?

How Sterile is Your Artificial Pitch?

My guess? No one has a clue. While everyone can simmer in fury over the possible discrimination of the turf decision, what is very obvious to us, is the following debate. IF the 2015 Women’s World Cup is played on artificial turf, what measures will be taken to sterilize the pitch? According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), MRSA and Staph are spread by the Five C’s.

The Five C’s

While it only takes one of these to contract MRSA, I am pretty sure the 2015 Women’s World Cup will involve ALL of the above. The bloody turf burn pics posted by Kaylyn Kyle and others are just more proof that artificial pitch sterilization is vital to the health and safety of athletes during the 2015 Women’s World Cup. So, who is going to sterilize the surface? Why is there no outrage over this? We’ve been trying to educate schools, sports organizations, Mom’s and anyone who will listen about these risks, but very few are listening. Our blog is becoming quite the library of information on the spread of MRSA and Staph through athletics, and what can be done about it.

No matter what the outcome of the discrimination lawsuit over the 2015 Women’s World Cup, we hope athletes and patrons alike will both start to consider the ramifications of playing any sport on an unsterilized, filthy pitch, especially when there is equipment readily available to eliminate the issue altogether. Our GreenZapr and MiniZapr technology is proven and reliable in the fight against MRSA, Staph and other infections contracted from an artificial pitch or other sports surfaces. You have to ask yourself, “Who’s blood am I coming in contact with when I play on the Pitch?”

Innovation by Observation. Observe, Research and Produce. An accomplished and results-driven sales professional with experience in business development, marketing, and finance.Providing the World an Honest Opinion